15th February 2007

Monster Glowing Squid Caught on Camera!

giant-squid.jpgThe first ever pictures of wild Dana octopus squid have shown that the giant animals have an unusual weapon, glowing arms that are used to blind and scare prey.

There has also been footage that was captured by a Japanese research team using cameras linked to baited lures. You can watch the video at National Geographic.

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14th February 2007

Titan Arum Blooms Early!


Global warming could be the reason for tricking the world’s most stinky plant into an early bloom.

The Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanium) is also known commonly as the corpse flower. The one in the picture above is a native of Indonesia.

It is quite abnormal for this flower to bloom during winter. This could be because of a very warm 2006 and mild winter in the United Kingdom may be a factor in causing the giant plant to bloom early.

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13th February 2007

Skeleton’s Locked in Love Embrace!

A pair of human skeletons which were locked in an embrace were unearthed recently at a construction site in Italy.

The remains, that are seen in this photo are provided by the Archaeological Society “SAP”, are said to be of a man and a woman who were buried 5,000 to 6,000 years ago.

This find has sparked theories that clue towards a older love story than the Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.

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13th February 2007

Animal Thefts From Zoo’s Increase!

Usually in the night, thieves with wire cutters and cages are taking away endangered species from the zoos and private collections throughout the world. Last month alone around 50 exotic birds were stolen in the United Kingdom from a private collection. In December a pair of African gray parrots were missing from the Australian Adelaide Zoo.

Last year a rare chuckwalla lizard disappeared from the Oklahoma City Zoo in the United States. In England around 5 Zoo’s were targeted last year by a criminal gang who took some 200 animals, most of which were exotic birds, small primates, and rare reptiles.

Black Market

These stolen animals usually end up in pet trade, roadside zoos, or private collections. Others are used in breeding programs. Money is the main motive. Because these animals are rare or endangered, they fetch a very good price in the black market.

Better Security

Facilities are now increasing security to stop break-ins. The effort comes with a high price tag. Now it has become extremely essential to increase security. In addition to installing camera’s and hiring more security personnel, identification microchips are also being used. The European zoos are not the only ones facing the problem of thefts. American Zoo’s also have been facing the same problem.

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11th February 2007

Endangered Sturgeon Recover in Hudson River!

The endangered fish, shortnose sturgeon had made a surprise recovery in the Hudson River under the shadows of Manhattan’s skyscrapers, according to a new study.

These species have been so successful in recovering that they can be removed from the list of endangered species.

It is being said that now around 60,000 shortnose sturgeon swim in the Hudson River. This is almost four times as many fish as were found in the river in the 1970s.

Slow Recovery

The shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) has been on the endangered species list since the Endangered Species Preservation Act was passed in 1966. The numbers of this fish have been declining for around hundred years.

The sturgeon was fished heavily to make a very popular smoked meat known as Albany beef, which is named after the fish’s upstream spawning site near the state capital of Albany.

The fish’s recovery was caused due to the protection of it as an endangered species as well as modern sewage treatment required under the 1977 Clean Water Act.

Sturgeon live long, they can live as long as humans and reproduce slowly that’s why their recovery took many decades.

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11th February 2007

Rare and Prehistoric “Goblin Shark” Caught in Japan!

A very rare goblin shark that resembles an ancient shark species was caught alive recently near the Tokyo Bay, but it died just within days.

Officials from the Tokyo Sea Life Park discovered a 4.3-foot-long (1.3-meter-long) creature on January 25 during an expedition with the local fisherman. The shark got tangled in fishing nets around 500 to 650 feet (150 to 200 meters) deep.

But the animal died immediately after being put on display for the public. There is very less information about the mysterious goblin shark, which normally lives at the bottom of the ocean.

“Dead goblin sharks are caught from time to time, but it is rarely seen alive,” a park official said. “We were able to document the way the shark swims. After it died, we dissected the specimen for further studies.”

Earlier this month there was another deep-sea prehistoric shark had been found in Japan. It died quickly under captivity.

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